RESERVOIRS

RESERVOIRS, artificial water bodies, formed, as a rule, in the river valley by water­retaining structures for accumulation and further utilization of water and for regulation of river flow. They are also used for water supply, irrigation, fish farming, recreation, etc. There are R. of long­term, seasonal, weekly and daily regulation. By the value of total volume, they are divided into large (over 100 million m3), medium (10—100), small (1—10), and ponds (less than 1 million m3). Creation of R. leads to flooding and waterlogging of lands, changes the microclimate, damages the populations of migratory fish; leads to the development of ravines, karst processes, etc.

The first R. (factory ponds) were built in the territory of the RB in the 18th century for water and as a source of power for of mountain plants. Construction continued in 60—70s of the 20th century. Large R. in the Republic are: Karmanovskoye Reservoir, Nugushskoye Reservoir, Pavlovskoye Reservoir, Yumaguzinskoye Reservoir; medium reservoirs are: Akyarskoye Reservoir and Tanalykskoye Reservoir; small reservoirs are: Uzyanskoye Reservoir, Makanskoye Reservoir, etc. The flows of rivers Ashkadar, Baza, Dyoma, Sune, Urshak, Usen are the most regulated.